Search for Baby Jesus

 Monday

 Day 5:  Fred thought we needed to add Chewbacca to our outside crew!

 He's the perfect addition!  Now we need R2D2.

 Monday night our church put on Search for Baby Jesus. 

 In the past, we've always attended and walked through as the tour guide and actors told the Christmas story.

 This year Madi wanted us to be IN the program.

 We were assigned to be one of the traveling families on their way to Bethlehem for the census.

 We all had speaking parts and thankfully did very well.

 We had at least 10-15 groups come through.

 One of my site coordinators attended with her family and sent this picture to me afterwards of her boys watching and listening to us.

 Then the Foleys took over for us so we could attend the program. 

But first Madi decorated and ate a cookie until our time to attend.

 After walking through the program, we fed the camel, goats and other animals outside.

  The camel was definitely a hit!  We both loved feeding him.  His lips were so soft!

 Day 6:  Fred had a few clues for Madi.

 The clues ended with two new ornaments for her tree.  She wanted a feather ornament since she was an Indian for Halloween and she's been wanting an Eiffel Tower for a while now.  I told Matt that means we need to book a trip overseas soon!

 Tuesday

 Day 7:  Fred hid himself among Madi's nutcracker collection along with a new addition on the far right.

 Wednesday

 Shelle teaches for us on Wednesdays so we were talking on the phone as we were both driving to work when she told me she was wearing the maroon dress we both bought last year.  I just laughed!  

  Madi's teacher Mrs. Lance asked for pictures of Christmas decorations from house to use for a fraction activity.  :)

 Wednesday night was my work Christmas party out at Hillcrest Country Club.

 We forgot to get a group picture but I snapped these of our husbands acting out Christmas songs as we tried to guess!

 Day 8:  Fred left a few more clues for Madi.

 Fred thought she could use some cute earrings to wear on our cruise coming up. 

 Thursday

 Day 9:  Fred hid in our backpack that we're taking on our trip with Madi's favorite orange Tic Tacs!

 Friday!

She wore her Christmas penguin shirt for pictures with Santa at school!

Sunday School Christmas Party

 Friday afternoon before heading to our Sunday School Christmas party, we turned on a Christmas movie, started a fire and worked on our Christmas cards.  I had the cutest helper too!

 Then we got on our ugly Christmas sweaters, grabbed our white elephant gifts and headed to drop Madi off at church.

 We had the best food and time at our Sunday School Christmas party.  These people have become some of our best friends.  We came home with a super soft blanket (that Madi stole!) and a Superman mug.

 Day 3:  Fred had another riddle up his sleeve.

 I think he knew the weather was going to be cold and rainy so Madi would need something fun to do indoors. 

 A gingerbread house was a perfect Saturday morning activity!

 She had most of it done before Matt started breakfast and before I even finished exercising.

 It turned out pretty cute.

 She's made more additions but it definitely livens up the kitchen counter!

 We had planned to stay home in our pjs all day with soup for lunch and chili for dinner but cabin fever set in and off we went to Christmas shop! 

Madi thinks we need one of these bears from Costco.  We'd need a room just for him!

 Love the decorations all over town!

 This guy surprised us with a stop for ice cream at Coldstone.

 Day 4:  Fred and his riddles.

 We loved the movie Trolls and we love bubble baths so this was a perfect surprise!

 Madi's picture is displayed at church.  It's the second from the left on the top row. 

 A little more shopping after church . . .

And lunch at La Madeline by the fire! 

That's a pretty perfect ending to a great weekend in my book!

Fred is back!

 We just had to send a happy birthday message to Owen, Madison's twin-cousin!

 Monday

 Doesn't everyone make lips out of their clementines?

 Tuesday

Wednesday

I flew to Dallas on Tuesday and had to take a picture with this life-sized nut-cracker for Madi.  She wants one so bad.  No clue where we'd store it though. 

 My great colleagues - Jody, Alyson, and Casey

 When Grandma picks you up because Mom is out of town, you get Cup of Yo! as an after-school treat!

 Day 1:  Fred is back!  He left her a little poem.

Now Madi has matching shirts with me thanks to Fred. 

 

 The author, Michael Finklea, came to Madi's school this week and read some of his books.  Madi bought his book Scared Stiff and had it autographed by him too.

 Thursday

 Wearing the new head wrap I bought her in Dallas.

 Day 2:  Fred left a clue for Madi to try and find him.

 He was hiding in the Christmas tree with a cool nutcracker ornament for Madi to put on her tree.

 Friday we both wore our matching red/black plaid shirts!

 December has definitely started!  We have an event or party pretty much every night until Christmas Eve. :)